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Lu Y, Lin M, Ou S, Sun L, Qian K, Kuang H, Wu Y. Astragalus polysaccharides ameliorate epileptogenesis, cognitive impairment, and neuroinflammation in a pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling mouse model. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1336122. [PMID: 38405667 PMCID: PMC10884767 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1336122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disease where neuroinflammation plays a significant role in epileptogenesis. Recent studies have suggested that Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) have anti-inflammatory properties, which make them a potential candidate for neuroprotection against central nervous system disease. Nevertheless, the extent of their effectiveness in treating epilepsy remains enigmatic. Therefore, our study aims to investigate the potential of APS to mitigate epileptogenesis and its comorbidities by exploring its underlying mechanism. Methods: Initially, we employed pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure mice to validate APS' effectiveness. Subsequently, we employed network pharmacology analysis to probe the possible targets and signaling pathways of APS in treating epilepsy. Ultimately, we verified the key targets and signaling pathways experimentally, predicting their mechanisms of action. Results: APS have been observed to disturb the acquisition process of kindling, leading to reduced seizure scores and a lower incidence of complete kindling. Moreover, APS has been found to improve cognitive impairments and prevent hippocampal neuronal damage during the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-kindling process. Subsequent network pharmacology analysis revealed that APS potentially exerted their anti-epileptic effects by targeting cytokine and toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa B (TLR4/NF-κB) signaling pathways. Finally, experimental findings showed that APS efficiently inhibited the activation of astrocytes and reduced the release of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In addition, APS impeded the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling cascade in a PTZ-induced kindling mouse model. Conclusion: The outcomes of our study suggest that APS exerts an impact on epileptogenesis and mitigates cognitive impairment by impeding neuroinflammatory processes. The mechanism underlying these observations may be attributed to the modulation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, resulting in a reduction of the release of inflammatory mediators. These findings partially agree with the predictions derived from network pharmacology analyses. As such, APS represents a potentially innovative and encouraging adjunct therapeutic option for epileptogenesis and cognitive deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuling Lu
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Minglin Lin
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Sijie Ou
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Lanfeng Sun
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Kai Qian
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Huimin Kuang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yuan Wu
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
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Liu S, Liang Z, Nie J, Gao WB, Li X, Zhang L, Yu Y, Wang Y, Huang W. Sera from breakthrough infections with SARS-CoV-2 BA.5 or BF.7 showed lower neutralization activity against XBB.1.5 and CH.1.1. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:2225638. [PMID: 37313604 PMCID: PMC10339773 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2225638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
From December 2022 to January 2023, SARS-CoV-2 infections caused by BA.5 and BF.7 subvariants of B.1.1.529 (Omicron) spread in China. It is urgently needed to evaluate the protective immune responses in the infected individuals against the current circulating variants to predict the future potential infection waves, such as the BQ.1.1, XBB.1.5, and CH1.1 variants. In this study, we constructed a panel of pseudotyped viruses for SARS-CoV-2 for the past and current circulating variants, including D614G, Delta, BA.1, BA.5, BF.7, BQ.1.1, XBB.1.5 and CH.1.1. We investigated the neutralization sensitivity of these pseudotyped viruses to sera from individuals who had BA.5 or BF.7 breakthrough infections in the infection wave of last December in China. The mean neutralization ID50 against infected variants BA.5 and BF.7 are 533 and 444, respectively. The highest neutralizing antibody level was observed when tested against the D614G strain, with the ID50 of 742, which is about 1.52-folds higher than that against the BA.5/BF.7 variant. The ID50 for BA.1, Delta, and BQ.1.1 pseudotyped viruses were about 2-3 folds lower when compared to BA.5/BF.7. The neutralization activities of these serum samples against XBB.1.5 and CH.1.1 decreased 7.39-folds and 15.25-folds when compared to that against BA.5/BF.7. The immune escape capacity of these two variants might predict new infection waves in future when the neutralizing antibody levels decrease furtherly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Liu
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ziteng Liang
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, Institute for Biological Product Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianhui Nie
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, Institute for Biological Product Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei bo Gao
- Department of Emergency, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Li
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Zhang
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, Institute for Biological Product Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuanling Yu
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Youchun Wang
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weijin Huang
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, Institute for Biological Product Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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